Device and method for singulation of used beverage or food containers

ABSTRACT

A device for singulation of used beverage or food containers received in bulk into individual objects, including: a first receiving area arranged for simultaneously receiving and keeping a plurality of containers; a second receiving area positioned at a higher vertical level than the first receiving area, wherein the device further includes a transporting device comprising a container elevating member for transporting a container from the first receiving area to the second receiving area wherein the elevating member is attached to said transporting device, moves along and is locked to a circumferential path around a first axis upon activation of the transporting device, and the first axis is inclined at an angle of 1° to 45° relative the horizontal plane.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/315,584, filed on Jan. 4, 2019, which is a U.S. national stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/EP2017/066936, filed on Jul. 6, 2017,which claims the benefit of European Application No. 16206226.9, filedon Dec. 22, 2016, European Application No. 16186310.5, filed on Aug. 30,2016, and European Application No. 16178096.0, filed on Jul. 6, 2016.The entire contents of each of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/315,584,International Application No. PCT/EP2017/066936, European ApplicationNo. 16206226.9, European Application No. 16186310.5, and EuropeanApplication No. 16178096.0 are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a device and method for singulation ofobjects, such as used beverage and food containers, received in bulk.

BACKGROUND

Devices for receiving, identifying and/or sorting objects, such as usedbeverage or food containers, may be used in reverse vending machines ine.g. super markets. Typically, these devices receive the containers oneby one, and a user therefore has to feed the containers one by one tothe device.

An example of a device adapted for receiving objects, such as usedbeverage or food containers in bulk, and forwarding them for individualprocessing is disclosed in WO 2014/122305 A1. The objects are receivedat a circular rotating surface which is substantially horizontal anddescending towards the periphery of the surface. A conveyor belt isarranged in vicinity of the rotating surface such that objects leavingthe surface will end up at the conveyor belt. The objects are therebyseparated into individual objects and can be transported further fore.g. recording, counting, evaluating, sorting, storing or recycling.

Another example of a device for receiving objects, such as containers,in bulk and processing the objects individually is disclosed in EP0305355 A1. This document discloses a device where the objects arereceived at a circular surface and elevated upwardly by means ofinclined ramp segments of the surface to a rotating rim where they areseparated.

These devices are however bulky and space consuming and therefore notadapted for use in reverse vending machines in e.g. a supermarket.

There is hence a need for a less bulky device which may be used inreverse vending machines and which is adapted for receiving more thanone container at the time.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved andmore compact device for receiving used beverage or food containers inbulk and forwarding them for individual processing. It is also an objectto provide a method for singulation of used beverage or food containers.

The invention is defined by the appended independent claims, withembodiments being set forth in the appended dependent claims, in thefollowing description and in the drawings.

According to a first aspect there is provided a device for singulationof used containers received in bulk, such as used food or beveragecontainers, into individual objects, comprising:

a first receiving area arranged for simultaneously receiving and keepinga plurality of containers;

a second receiving area positioned at a higher vertical level than thefirst receiving area, and

wherein the device further comprises a transporting device comprising acontainer elevating member for transporting a container from the firstreceiving area to the second receiving area, wherein the elevatingmember is attached to said transporting device, which transportingdevice is configured to move said container elevating member along acircumferential path around a first axis (x) upon activation of thetransporting device, said first axis (x) being inclined at an angle of1° to 45° relative the horizontal plane, and said container elevatingmember is locked to said circumferential path during the elevation ofsaid containers, and

wherein the container elevating member, when arranged at a containerdrop-off point along said circumferential path, the container elevatingmember slopes downwardly as seen radially inwards;

said container drop-off point being arranged between said firstreceiving area and the point where the elevating member reaches its topmost position along said circumferential path.

Moreover, there is provided a device for singulation of used beverage orfood containers received in bulk into individual objects, comprising:

a first receiving area arranged for simultaneously receiving and keepinga plurality of containers;

a second receiving area positioned at a higher vertical level than thefirst receiving area,

characterized in that

-   -   the device further comprises a transporting device comprising a        container elevating member for transporting a container from the        first receiving area to the second receiving area wherein the        elevating member is attached to said transporting device, moves        along and is locked to a circumferential path around a first        axis upon activation of the transporting device, and the lower        portion which first axis is inclined at an angle of 1° to 45°        relative the horizontal plane

The process of separating containers for individual forwarding andprocessing may be referred to as singulation.

By bulk is meant that more than one container can be received by thedevice simultaneously, and preferably that the containers can be ofvarious material, shapes and sizes such as tin cans, cylindrical, squareor odd-shaped bottles, TetraPak containers etc. Furthermore, the food orbeverage containers may be made of different materials, such as plastic,paper, metal or glass, or a combination thereof. The device may beadapted for being able to receive and process all or some of thedifferent standard sizes of containers in different countries. It maye.g. be able to handle a mix of 33 cl and 50 cl tin cans, as well as 33cl, 50 cl and 1.5 l PET bottles.

In certain embodiments, the device is provided with a front wall. Afront wall is, in relation to the transporting device, to be understoodas being a wall that is substantially parallel with a plane in which thecircumferential path is arranged. The front wall is to be understood asextending so that it is arranged adjacent to at least 25% of thecircumferential path, preferably adjacent to at least 50% of the portionof the circumferential path extending from the first receiving area tothe second receiving area, most preferably adjacent to the entireportion of the circumferential path extending from the first receivingarea to the second receiving area. The front wall is to be understood asbeing offset the transporting device or the center of the containerelevating members by at least 3 cm, preferably at least 5 cm, mostpreferably at least 10 cm. The front wall is to be understood as beingoffset the transporting device or the center of the container elevatingmembers by no more than 30 cm, preferably no more than 25 cm, mostpreferably no more than 20 cm. The front wall is to be understood asbeing offset in the same direction as the container elevating membersextend from the transporting device. The front wall is to be understoodas being offset the transporting device in a direction that issubstantially parallel with the first axis.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the transporting device is notprovided with a front wall.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the container elevating memberextends outside the transporting device in a radial direction.

This enables containers elevated by the container elevating member to betransported across the transporting device in a direction backwardsrelative to the transporting device. Thus, containers can be transportedbetween the container elevating members and over the edge of thetransporting device.

According to one example the diameter, or length, of the container thatis transported by the device is at least 20 mm or at least 50 mm; and/orat most 150 mm, or at most 200 mm, or at most 350 mm. Additionally oralternatively, the height (i.e. the longest side) of the container thatis transported by the device is at least 50 mm, or at least 75 mm;and/or at most 200 mm, or at most 380 mm, or at most 500 mm.Additionally or alternatively, the weight of the container that istransported by the device is at least 10 g; and/or at most 3 kg, or atmost 5 kg. Additionally or alternatively, the volume of the containerthat is transported by the device is at least 10 ml, or at least 50 ml;and/or at most 3 liters, or at most 5 liters, or at most 8 liters.

By higher vertical level of second receiving area relative the firstreceiving area is meant that a major portion of the second receivingarea is arranged above the first receiving area. Hence, the containersare transported from a lower vertical level to a higher vertical levelwhen being brought from the first receiving area to the second receivingarea. The height difference between said first receiving area and saidsecond receiving area may be at least 0.2 m, or at least 0.4 m, or atleast 0.6 m, or at least 0.8 m, or at least 1 m, or at least 1.2 m, orat least 1.5 m. Additionally or alternatively, the height differencebetween said first receiving area and said second receiving area may beat most 0.6 m, or at most 0.8 m, or at most 1 m, or at most 1.2 m, or atmost 1.5 m, or at most 1.7 m, or at most 2. Additionally oralternatively, the height difference between said first receiving areaand said second receiving area may be 900 mm-1100 mm; or 800 mm-1200 mm;or 500 mm-2 000 mm. Additionally or alternatively, said second receivingarea may be arranged at least 0.8 m, or at least 1.0 m, or at least 1.1,or at least 1.2 m, or at least 1.4 m, or at least 1.6 m, or at least 1.8m above the floor. Additionally or alternatively, said second receivingarea may be arranged at most 2.2 m, or at most 2.0 m, or at most 1.8 m,or at most 1.6 m, or at most 1.4 m, or at most 1.2 m above the floor

The first axis is an axis around which the transporting device isrotatable. According one embodiment said first axis is arranged at thecenter of said circumferential path.

Since the transportation of the containers from the first to the secondreceiving area mainly takes place in the vertical plane, the device canbe made less bulky as compared to prior art devices for singulation ofobjects.

Since the device is able to receive containers in bulk a user can feed aplurality of containers at the same time and does not have to feed thecontainers one by one to the device. Thereby the recycling of containersmay be easier and less time consuming, and hence more user friendly.

Moreover, since the containers can be received in bulk by the device,the problem that the user gets in contact with food and/or drinkresidues from the containers may be reduced.

The transportation device may be arranged such that the containerelevating member, also referred to as elevating member, elevating meansor container elevating means, may continuously follow the same pathand/or may continuously follow the same path revolution afterrevolution. This e.g. achieved when the transporting device comprises arotatable plate, a frame or a conveyor belt to which the elevatingmember is fixedly attached the motion of which describes a full turn. Inmore detail, when the transporting device is a rotatable plate to whichthe elevating member is attached, the elevating member will continuouslyfollow the same path, i.e. the elevating member will start at oneposition in space and revert to the same position in space upon a fullrotation of the plate, thereby completing one turn or one revolution,and if the plate keeps rotating the elevating member follows the samepath during its second round or revolution as it followed during itsfirst. In other words, the elevating member continuously follows thesame path.

When the container elevating member is locked to a circumferential pathit continuously follows this path revolution after revolution.

The path described by the elevation member may be confined to onegeometrical plane, and/or the path to which the container elevatingmember is locked may be confined to one geometrical plane at least whendisregarding small disturbances such as vibration.

The transportation device may be arranged such that the lowest verticalposition which the elevating member passes upon rotation of thetransport device, or a lower portion of the path described by theelevating member, is within the area or space where at the bulk ofcontainers are stored or kept before singulation. This area or spaceincludes and/or coincides with and/or overlaps the first receiving area.In other words, the lower portion and/or lowest portion of the pathdescribed by the elevating member passes through the bulk of containers.This lower portion of the path may or may not include the lowest portionof path, or the lowest vertical position which the elevating memberpasses upon rotation of the transport device. Additionally oralternatively, the first axis is arranged above, or at a higher verticallevel than, the area or space where at the bulk of containers are keptbefore singulation. Additionally or alternatively, the elevating memberis locked to a curved path through the area or space where at the bulkof containers are stored or kept before singulation. Additionally oralternatively, the elevating member enters at one end of the receptacle,wherein the bulk of containers are stored or kept before singulation,and leaves the receptacle at an opposite end. Optionally, thecross-section of this receptacle is elongated, or the cross-section ofthe area or space where at the bulk of containers are stored or keptbefore singulation is elongated, and the elevating member enters at oneof the short sides and leaves at an opposite short side; thecross-section is preferably taken parallel with the horizontal plane.

By a rotatable plate or frame is meant that the transporting device maybe formed as a solid plate, or a frame with e.g. one or more openings orarms.

By rotatable is meant that upon activation by e.g. a motor, thetransporting device may rotate in the clockwise or anti-clockwisedirection.

The elevating member may be fixedly attached to the transporting deviceby fixing means, such as screws, bolts or adhesive etc.

The number of elevation means attached to the transportation device maybe between 1 and 20, and/or the number of elevation means is at least 2,4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16, and/or the number of elevation means is notmore than 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 or 20.

The first axis may be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane by1° to 40°. Additionally or alternatively, the inclination of the firstaxis with respect to the horizontal plane may be more than 1°, 5°, 10°,20°, 30° or 35°; and/or less than 40°, 35°, 25°, 20°, 15° or 10°.

By arranging the device substantially vertical the device may be morecompact and hence less space consuming.

The device may be provided with retaining means arranged forfacilitating the retention of a container in the transporting devicewhile it is brought from the first receiving area to the secondreceiving area.

The retaining means may be a peripheral barrier, wall or platepreferable arranged at the outer periphery of the transporting device,which retaining means may extend in the radial direction and/or in adirection transversal to the first axis. When the retaining means isarranged at the elevating means at the outer periphery of thetransporting device and extending in the radial direction, a transportedcontainer will be arranged between the retaining means and the axis ofrotation, and the container will be forced against the retaining meansdue to e.g. a radial acceleration of the bottle. According to oneexemplary embodiment, said retaining means is flexibly connected to saiddevice, such that said retaining means may be deflected in a radialdirection. This allows the containers to deflect the retaining meansoutwardly as they are transported from the first receiving area to thesecond receiving area, when the containers are making first contact withthe retaining means. It is the end of the retaining means that islocated closest to the first receiving area that is connected to thedevice, the other end may deflect outwards, away from the first axis. Bybeing flexibly connected to the device, such deflection causes theretaining means to push back against the containers, thus holding themin place on the container elevating members. This deflection happenswhen a container of a size larger than a predetermined size is beingtransported from the first receiving area to the second receiving area.When a container that is smaller than this predetermined size is beingtransported from the first receiving area to the second receiving area,the retaining means is not deflected radially outwards. If the retainingmeans extends transversal or orthogonal to the first axis, and the firstaxis is inclined by e.g. 40° to a horizontal plane, a transportedcontainer will normally slide to rest against these retaining meansduring transportation. The device of the present invention may beprovided with retaining means extending in the radial direction and/orwith retaining means extending in a direction transversal to the firstaxis. Thus, a device according to the present inventive concept may beprovided with both types of retaining means, as well as other types ofretaining means.

Alternatively, the retaining means may be arranged radially below theelevating means.

The retaining means may be planar and/or curved and extend from theelevating means in the direction of transportation.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said device comprises secondaryretaining means.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said secondary retaining means isarranged for retaining a container on the container elevating memberswhile said container is being brought from the first receiving area tothe second receiving area.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said secondary retaining means isa barrier that is substantially parallel with said transporting device.

Said secondary retaining means may for example be a wall offset fromsaid circumferential path. Said secondary retaining means may forexample be offset in the direction of the rotational axis and/or in theradial direction. Said wall may for example be arranged at a distancefrom said circumferential path such that a container may fit between thetransporting device and the secondary retaining means. Thus, thesecondary retaining means in combination with the transporting deviceand any other retaining means forms a channel or passage through whichthe containers may pass as they move from said first receiving area tosaid second receiving area. This allows the secondary retaining means toprevent the containers from falling off the container elevating membersand down into the first receiving area.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said secondary retaining means isflexibly connected to said device, such that said secondary retainingmeans may deflect in a direction that is substantially parallel withsaid first axis. This is to be understood as meaning that the distancebetween the secondary retaining means and the transporting device may beincreased by a container causing the secondary retaining means toflexibly deflect away from said transporting device. The retaining meansand the secondary retaining means are arranged to aid in thetransportation of both small and large containers, by means of theflexible connection between each one of the two retaining means and thedevice. As the secondary retaining means is caused to flexibly deflectaway from said transporting device, it may push back against thecontainers, if these are larger than a predetermined size, thus holdingthem in place on the container elevating members.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said secondary retaining meanscomprises a container securing flange, said container securing flangebeing a portion of said secondary retaining means that protrudes in adirection away from said circumferential path at an angle relative tothe remainder of said secondary retaining means.

This helps align containers that are slightly misaligned with thecircumferential path of the container elevating members. This alsoensures that the containers are held in place on the container elevatingmembers as they are transported from the first receiving area to thesecond receiving area.

The secondary retaining means may for example extend from a positionproximal to the drop-off point of the containers, to a position halfwaybetween the first receiving area or the lowest portion of thecircumferential path and the drop-off point.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said device further comprisestertiary retaining means arranged for retaining a container on thecontainer elevating members while being brought from the first receivingarea to the second receiving area.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said tertiary retaining means isarranged along and adjacent to a portion of said circumferential path.The tertiary retaining means may thus be seen as extending along a paththat is concentric with the circumferential path of the containerelevating members.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said tertiary retaining means isarranged along and adjacent to said circumferential path, radiallyinwards of said container elevating members. Thus, containers elevatedby said container elevating members may rest on a container supportingsurface of said tertiary retaining means as they are transported fromsaid first receiving area to said second receiving area.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said tertiary retaining meansextend along at least 10% of the circumference of said circumferentialpath or of said transporting device, preferably along at least 15% ofthe circumference of said circumferential path or of said transportingdevice, most preferably along at least 20% of the circumference of saidcircumferential path or of said transporting device. Additionally oralternatively, said tertiary retaining means extend along no more than33% of the circumference of said circumferential path or of saidtransporting device, preferably along no more than 30% of thecircumference of said circumferential path or of said transportingdevice, most preferably along no more than 25% of the circumference ofsaid circumferential path or of said transporting device. For example,said tertiary retaining means extend along 10% to 33% of thecircumference of said circumferential path or of said transportingdevice.

According to one exemplary embodiment, one end of said tertiaryretaining means is located at a position proximal to said drop-offpoint. This is to be understood as meaning that said tertiary retainingmeans extends from an upper portion of said transporting device and downtowards said first receiving area. The tertiary retaining means may forexample extend from a position proximal to the drop-off point of thecontainers, to a position located no more than 66% of thecircumferential distance to the lowest portion of the circumferentialpath or of the transporting device.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said tertiary retaining meanscomprises a container supporting surface proximal to an uppermostportion of said transporting device and facing radially outwards.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said tertiary retaining meanscomprises a wedge-shaped portion arranged to deflect containers fromsaid container supporting surface of said elevating members if saidcontainers are misaligned thereon.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said wedge-shaped portion of saidtertiary retaining means tapers off in a circumferential directiontowards said first receiving area. Said tapering is provided at an angleof 10°-45°, as measured between said tapering surface and a surfaceparallel to said transporting device. In other words, said wedge-shapedportion may be seen as pointing towards said first receiving area.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the elevating member is arrangedto cingulate or single out, or separate the container from the bulk ofcontainers by means of a scooping action, a nudging action and/or apushing action of the elevating member.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the second receiving area is aportion of a plate or a conveyor belt, and preferably an upper portionof a plate or a conveyor belt.

By this arrangement the containers may quickly be transported away fromthe second receiving area such that there is space for other containerbrought from the first receiving area to enter the second receivingarea.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the transporting device and thesecond receiving area are arranged such that a container being broughtfrom the first receiving area by the transporting device leaves thetransporting device partly or fully due to the act of gravity, and/or bya sliding motion and/or a free falling motion, and enters the secondreceiving area.

Each elevating member has a container supporting surface which is incontact with the container during the transportation of the containerfrom the first receiving area to the drop-off point. According to oneembodiment the container is in contact with the same surface portion ofthe container elevating member during the whole transport of thecontainer, in this a case this surface portion equals the containersupporting surface. According to another embodiment the container may bein contact with different surface portions of the elevating memberduring this transport, in this a case the sum of these surface portionsequals the container supporting surface. If the drop-off point, i.e. thepoint where the container leaves from the elevating means and enters thesecond receiving area, is arranged higher in the vertical level ascompared to the second receiving area, the container may fall to thesecond receiving area due to the act of gravity.

Alternatively, if the drop-off point is located at the same verticallevel as the second receiving area, the container may slide off by asliding motion from the elevating member and thus entering the secondreceiving area.

The transportation device may be arranged such that a container leavesthe elevating member, before the elevating member has reached its topmost position. This may be achieved by a suitable inclination of theelevating member, in combination one or more guiding surfaces. In otherwords, as seen along the circumferential path, and in the direction ofmotion of the container elevating member, the container elevating memberfirst passes the receiving area, then the drop-off point and thereafterthe point where the container elevating member is arranged in itshighest vertical position or reaches its top most position. Whenarranged at the drop-off point the elevating member, or the carryingsurface of the container elevating member, slopes downwards, or isinclined downwards, as seen radially inwards, so that the containerleaves the container elevating member fully or partly due to the act ofgravity. When the container partly leaves the container elevating memberdue to the act of gravity, it may e.g. be aided to leave the containerelevating member by use of pressurized air, i.e. the container may beaided to leave by being hit by a puff of pressurized air or otherpressurized media such as water or gas.

The expression “a container supporting surface of the containerelevating member slopes downwardly as seen radially inwards, when saidcontainer elevating member is arranged at a container drop-off pointalong said circumferential path” means that: when the containerelevating member is arranged at a container drop-off point, the outerend of the container supporting surface of the container elevatingmember is arranged at a higher vertical position compared to the innerend of the container supporting surface of the container elevatingmember as seen radially inwards, but it does not require that thecontainer supporting surface of the container elevating member isparallel with the radial direction, i.e. the direction pointing towardsthe center of the circumferential path.

The outer end of the container supporting surface of the containerelevating member is arranged at a greater distance from the center ofsaid circumferential path compared to the inner end of the containersupporting surface of the container elevating member. According to oneembodiment, the inner end of said container supporting surfacecorresponds to the end or edge of said container supporting surface atwhich said container leaves the container elevating member.

When the container elevating member is arranged at the containerdrop-off point, the container supporting surface of the containerelevating member may be parallel with the radial direction.Alternatively, when the container elevating member is arranged at acontainer drop-off point, and while sloping radially inwards, thecontainer supporting surface of the container elevating member maydeviate by no more than 1°, or by no more than 3°, or by no more than5°, or by no more than 10°, or by no more than 15°, or by no more than20° from the radial direction. Additionally or alternatively, when thecontainer elevating member is arranged at a container drop-off point,and while sloping radially inwards, the container supporting surface ofthe container elevating member may deviate by at most 1°, or by at most3°, or at most 5°, or by at most 10°, or by at most 15°, or by at most20° from the radial direction. According to one embodiment the firstaxis is arranged straight above said first receiving area. In relationto this invention, the expression “X is arranged straight above Y” meansthat there is a vertical plane that intersects both X and Y, and avertical plane is a plane which normal is horizontal.

The containers received in bulk may be of various shapes, sizes, andmasses and different containers may have slightly different drop-offpoints; the range of which makes up a drop-off section along thecircumferential path. When this is the case, the drop-off point asreferred to above is the median drop-off point for the range of bottlesthat the singulation device is designed to handle, i.e., according toits manual/product specification or the like. According to analternative embodiment, the drop-off point may be the highest drop-offpoint, in the vertical direction, along the drop-off section that thesingulation device is designed to handle.

According to one embodiment the transportation device is arranged suchthe first axis (x), when projected onto the horizontal plane, isorthogonal or deviates from being orthogonal with 0° to 20°, withrespect to a main transportation direction of a container in the secondreceiving area.

In other words, when the first axis is projected onto the horizontalplane, the first axis is parallel to and/or coincides with thetransportation direction at the second receiving area. Additionally oralternatively, when the first axis is projected onto the horizontalplane, the first axis deviates from the transportation direction at thesecond receiving area with 0° to 20°.

According to one embodiment the transportation device is arranged suchthat first axis (x), when projected onto the horizontal plane, isparallel or deviates from being parallel with 0° to 20° with respect toa main transportation direction of a container in the second receivingarea. In other words, when the first axis is projected onto thehorizontal plane, the first axis is orthogonal to the transportationdirection at the second receiving area; or deviates from beingorthogonal to the transportation direction at the second receiving areawith 0° to 20°.

According to one embodiment, the length of the elevating member in theradial direction is between 2-20 cm, or 3-10 cm or 4-8 cm, and/or equalto or greater than 2 cm, or 3 cm, or 4 cm, and/or equal to or less than20 cm, or 10 cm, or 8 cm, and/or the length of the elevating member in adirection orthogonal to the radial direction is between 2-20 cm, or 3-10cm or 4-8 cm, and/or equal to or greater than 2 cm, or 3 cm, or 4 cm,and/or equal to or less than 20 cm, or 10 cm, or 8 cm. In other words,when the elevating member is a rectangular plate, the length of theelevating member in the radial direction being 6.0 cm and the length ofthe elevating member in a direction orthogonal to the radial directionbeing 6.0 cm; the surface area used for elevating a container is 36.0cm². The elevating member may have many shapes, it may be e.g. berectangular, circular, square, polygonal or a combination of theseshapes.

Additionally or alternatively, the size of container supporting surfaceof the elevating member is 20% larger than the size or diameter of thesmallest object the device is designed to handle; and/or 40% smallerthan the size or diameter of the largest object device is designed tohandle.

When designing container elevating member, the skilled person may by aidof this description and by trial and error identify a suitable shape ofthe container elevating member. For example, for a flat containerelevating member the size of the container supporting surface isnormally a tradeoff between different parameters: e.g. the rate at whichthe containers may reach the second surface are, the capability ofpicking up the containers one by one, the stability of the elevationi.e. that the container does not fall back to the first receiving areabefore reaching the drop-off point, the success rate of picking up acontainer each time the elevating member passes the first receivingarea, that the container has the correct orientating (for bottlesnormally: top first). And that the elevating member causes a sufficientdisplacement of the bottles in the first receiving area, whicheffectively avoids that the system comes to a halt.

Depending on the application one or a few of these parameters areidentified as more important, and the design of the singulation device,the elevating member and/or the container supporting surface of theelevating member is designed keeping these prioritized parameters inmind.

A test, involving bottles having a diameter from 50 mm to 100 mm, andperformed with a device arranged as described in relation to FIGS. 3aand 3b , the transporting device having the same velocity at all test,while the elevating members were of different sizes, led e.g. to thefollowing conclusions:

-   -   for elevating members having a very large surface area (e.g.        50×80) three or even four object was picked up at a time by the        same container elevating member; which might lead to congestion        at the second receiving area;    -   also for elevating members with large surface areas (e.g. 80×80)        more than one object were picked up at a time;    -   for small surface areas (e.g. 40×40) all objects are elevated to        the second receiving area, but the rate at which the bottles        reach the second receiving surface is low, i.e. many elevating        members fail to pick up a bottle; also the elevating members        were too short to efficiently rearrange the bottles in the first        receiving area, resulting in little rotation/displacement of the        bottles and leading to that the whole system occasionally comes        to a halt as the elevating members were not able to pick-up the        bottles arranged closest to the pick-up section;    -   a slightly larger surface area (50×50) resulted in a fairly low        speed/transportation rate (i.e. the rate at which the bottles        reach the second receiving area); due to the small surface area        the transport of the larger bottles was a bit unstable; the        length of the elevating member was still a bit too short in        order to provide an efficient rearrangement of the bottles in        the first receiving area;    -   a slightly larger surface area (60×60), resulted in few double        objects as well as giving good speed/transportation rate.    -   a slightly larger surface area (70×70) gives a good        rearrangement in the first receiving area, which effectively        avoids that the system comes to a halt; however, the system        occasionally picks up more than one bottle at a time.        If the rate at which the bottles successfully reaches the second        receiving area is of importance, an elevating member having a        surface area of about 60×60 could be chosen, when handling        bottles having a diameter from 50 mm to 100 mm. [all measures in        the section above are given in mm unless stated otherwise]

According to one exemplary embodiment, the second receiving areacomprises means for transporting a container towards a containerinspection area. The direction in which these means transport thecontainers are may also be referred to as the transportation directionat the second receiving area.

The means for transporting may be e.g. a conveyor belt, such as a Vconveyor or a flat conveyor. Alternatively, the second receiving areamay be a plate which is tilted towards the inspection area such thatcontainers are transported or slides towards the inspection area.Alternatively, the plate is tilted towards a conveyor belt, such thatcontainers are transported or slides towards a conveyor belt, whichconveyor belt in turn transports the containers towards an inspectionarea. In this latter case, According to one exemplary embodiment, thecontainer inspection area comprises inspection means, the inspectionmeans comprising a camera and/or a scanner and a decision unit arrangedfor receiving a signal from the inspection means and based on thissignal being arranged to send a container to e.g. a sorting station,back to the first receiving area or to an outfeed of the device.

The inspection means may capture an image or a photo of the whole or apart of a container. Alternatively, a scanner may be used to scan e.g. abar code to obtain identification information about the container or theprofile of the container.

Based on the information obtained by the inspection means, e.g. type,shape, size, color etc. of the container, the decision unit decides howthe container should be handled. The container may e.g. be classified asinvalid or potentially valid. Invalid containers are normally returnedto the user, and potentially valid containers may be fed to furtherinspection areas. If there are no further inspection areas, thecontainer may instead be classified as valid.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the second receiving areacomprises at least a portion of a conveyer belt, wherein the first axis(x), when projected onto the horizontal plane, is provided at an angleto the longitudinal axis of the conveyor belt, when projected onto thehorizontal plane, wherein said angle is greater than 90°, mostpreferably greater than or equal to 95°. Additionally or alternatively,said angle is less than or equal to 130°, preferably less than or equalto 120°, most preferably less than or equal to 110°. For example, saidangle is greater than 90° and less than or equal to 130°.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said conveyor belt is arranged sothat it extends in a direction that deviates from a tangential directionof said transporting device by no more than 45°, preferably by no morethan 35°, most preferably by no more than 25°.

The tangential direction is to be understood as being parallel with thetangent of the circumference of said transporting device at a positionproximal to the second receiving area.

Thus, containers that have been singulated by said container elevatingmembers and brought to said second receiving area may move from saidtransporting device to said conveyor belt without any significant changeof direction. Thus, a smoother transition between the transportingdevice and the second receiving area may be achieved.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said conveyor belt is aV-conveyor comprising two belts.

Thus, a more secure receipt of the singulated containers may beachieved. Furthermore, identifying and discarding misaligned containersfrom a V-conveyor is easier than doing so from a flat conveyor.

According to one exemplary embodiment, each belt extends from arespective starting end to a respective distal end, wherein saidstarting end of one of the two belts is offset the starting end of theother belt along the extension of the V-conveyor.

As the V-conveyor may be arranged at an angle relative said transportingdevice, having one band being offset the other allows the V-conveyor tobe arranged closer to the transporting device. Thus, the amount ofnon-active bridging surfaces between said transporting device and saidsecond receiving area is reduced.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said starting end of each one ofsaid belts is located at a position proximal to the second receivingarea.

Thus, soon after the singulated containers leave the transportingdevice, the V-conveyor engages the containers and transports them awayfrom said second receiving area. This reduces the risk of havingcontainers stuck on a non-active surface between said transportingdevice and said V-conveyor.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said conveyor belt has a widththat is less than 90 mm, preferably less than 80 mm, most preferablyless than 70 mm, as measured in a direction that is perpendicular to atransporting direction of the conveyor belt and that is parallel withthe horizontal plane.

By having a conveyor belt that has a width that is less than 90 mm,misaligned containers may fall off the conveyor belt without beingforced to do so by means of e.g. a sorting device or sortingarrangement, Thus, a more efficient sorting out of misaligned containersmay be achieved.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said conveyor belt has no sidewalls. This enables containers to fall off the conveyor belt moreeasily.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said two belts are arranged at anangle relative to each other, wherein said angle is greater than 40°,most preferably greater than 45°. Additionally or alternatively, saidangle is between less than 80°, preferably less than 70°, mostpreferably less than 60°. For example, said angle is between 40° and80°.

Thus, a more secure receipt and transportation of the singulatedcontainers may be achieved.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said transporting devicecomprises a front surface and a back surface.

Said front surface is to be understood as being a surface of saidtransporting device that is substantially perpendicular to said firstaxis. Said back surface is to be understood as being a surface that issubstantially parallel with said front surface. Said back surface isoffset relative to said front surface in a direction away from saidfirst receiving area along said first axis.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said transporting device furthercomprises a peripherally arranged flange.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said flange extends towards andbeyond said back surface of said transporting device.

Said flange may act as a bridging surface between said transportingdevice and said second receiving area, thus reducing the risk ofcontainers or other objects falling down behind the transporting deviceas the containers are transported therefrom to said second receivingarea.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said flange is arranged at anangle relative to said transporting device, wherein said angle is lessthan 110°, preferably less than 90°, most preferably less than 85°.Additionally or alternatively, said angle is greater than 40°,preferably greater than 65°, most preferably greater than 75°. Forexample, said angle is between 40° and 110°.

By having the flange arranged at an angle lower than 90° relative to thetransporting device, the containers may be caused to slide across saidflange and down towards said second receiving area once the containerelevating members reach a container drop-off point. Additionally oralternatively, having the flange arranged at an angle relative to thetransporting device such that a top portion of the flange slopesdownwards from the transporting device, relative to the horizontalplane, allows the containers to slide across said flange and downtowards said second receiving area once the container elevating membersreach a container drop-off point.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said elevating members arearranged to protrude from a periphery of said transporting device.

Thus, the front surface of the transporting device does not obstruct thepath of the containers as they leave the container supporting surface ofthe container elevating members and enter the second receiving area atthe container drop-off point.

According to one exemplary embodiment, said elevating members extendbeyond said flange, in a direction from said first axis towards saidcircumferential path.

Thus, the flange may be used to guide the containers so that they slideoff the container elevating members onto the second receiving area asthe container elevating members reach the container drop-off point. Inother words, the containers do not drop from one level to another whentraveling from said first receiving area to said second receiving area.This enables a more controlled and secure transportation of thecontainers.

According to one exemplary embodiment, each one of said containersupporting surfaces of said elevating members is arranged at an anglerelative to said front surface of said transporting device, wherein saidangle is less than 120°, preferably less than 115°, most preferably lessthan 110°. Additionally or alternatively, said angle is greater than90°, preferably greater than 95°, most preferably greater than 100°. Forexample, said angle is between 90° and 120°.

That the container supporting surfaces slope inwards or backwards asseen along said first axis, in combination with the transporting devicebeing angled relative to the horizontal plane, allows the containerselevated by said container elevating members to rest against a portionof said device while they are transported from said first receiving areato said second receiving area. Said device may for example comprise afixed supporting wall arranged at least around the periphery of saidtransporting device and/or along the circumferential path of thecontainer elevating members. This supporting wall may act as a supportfor the containers as they move along the circumferential path of thecontainer elevating members.

According to one aspect of the invention, a device for singulation ofused beverage or food containers received in bulk into individualobjects is provided, said device comprising:

a first receiving area arranged for simultaneously receiving and keepinga plurality of containers;

a second receiving area positioned at a higher vertical level than thefirst receiving area,

characterized in that

the device further comprises a transporting device comprising acontainer elevating member for transporting a container from the firstreceiving area to the second receiving area, wherein the elevatingmember is attached to said transporting device, which transportingdevice is configured to move said container elevating member along acircumferential path around a first axis (x) upon activation of thetransporting device, said first axis (x) being inclined at an angle of5° to 45° relative the horizontal plane, and said container elevatingmember is locked to said circumferential path during the elevation ofsaid containers, and

wherein a respective container supporting surface of each one of saidcontainer elevating members is angled inwards relative to saidtransporting device, wherein said angle is greater than 60°, preferablygreater than 65°, most preferably greater than 70°. Additionally oralternatively, said angle is less than 90°, preferably less than 85°,most preferably less than 80°. For example, said angle is between 60°and 90°.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided areverse vending machine comprising a device according to any of thepreceding claims.

What is described above in relation to the devices for singulation, mayalso be applied to the methods for singulating used beverage or foodcontainers presented below.

According to a further aspect, there is provided: a method forsingulating used beverage or food containers received in bulk intoindividual objects, comprising:

-   -   providing a first receiving area arranged for simultaneously        receiving and keeping a plurality of containers;    -   arranging a second receiving area at a higher vertical level        than the first receiving area;

providing a transporting device comprising a container elevating member,which is movable along and locked to a circumferential path around afirst axis, which first axis (x) is inclined at an angle of 0 to 45°relative the horizontal plane, the transporting device being arranged insuch a way that upon activation thereof a container located in the firstreceiving area is brought by the elevating member of the transportingdevice to the second receiving area;

activating the transporting device such that a container located in thefirst receiving area is brought by the elevating member to the secondreceiving area.

According to a yet further aspect, there is provided: a method forsingulating used beverage or food containers received in bulk intoindividual objects, comprising:

providing a bulk of containers in a first receiving area;

providing a transporting device comprising a container elevating memberfor transporting a container from said first receiving area to a secondreceiving area being arranged at a higher vertical level compared to thefirst receiving area, wherein said container elevating member isattached to said transporting device,

activating said transporting device, upon which activation saidtransporting device moves said container elevating member along acomplete circumferential path around a first axis (x), said first axis(x) being inclined at an angle of 0° to 45° relative the horizontalplane, and said container elevating member is locked to saidcircumferential path, and

when being transported along said circumferential path said containerelevating member passes from a container pick-up section, via acontainer drop-off point, to its top most position in the verticaldirection,

wherein the container elevating member, when arranged at the drop-offpoint along said circumferential path, the container elevating memberslopes downwardly as seen radially inwards.

In relation to this invention the term “full circumferential path”refers to that the path describes a full lap or revolution, i.e. whenfollowing the path, a full lap or revolution, the direction of motionmakes a 360° turn and the path returns to where it started.

In relation to this invention the term “pick-up section” refers to thesection along the circumferential path where the containers are singledout or picked-up from the bulk of containers.

Itemized List of Embodiments

Item 1. A device for singulation of used beverage or food containersreceived in bulk into individual objects, comprising:

a first receiving area arranged for simultaneously receiving and keepinga plurality of containers;

a second receiving area positioned at a higher vertical level than thefirst receiving area,

characterized in that

the device further comprises a transporting device comprising acontainer elevating member for transporting a container from the firstreceiving area to the second receiving area, wherein the elevatingmember is attached to said transporting device, which transportingdevice is configured to move said container elevating member along acircumferential path around a first axis upon activation of thetransporting device, said first axis being inclined at an angle of 0° to45° relative the horizontal plane, and said container elevating memberis locked to said circumferential path during the elevation of saidcontainers, and

wherein a container supporting surface of the container elevating memberslopes downwardly as seen radially inwards, when said containerelevating member is arranged at a container drop-off point along saidcircumferential path;

said container drop-off point being arranged between said firstreceiving area and the point where the elevating member reaches its topmost position along said circumferential path.

Item 2. The device according to item 1, which transporting devicecomprises a rotatable plate, a frame or a conveyor belt to which theelevating member is fixedly attached.

Item 3. The device according to any of the preceding items, wherein thefirst axis is inclined relative to the horizontal plane by 0° to 40°.

Item 4. The device according to any of the preceding items, wherein thedevice comprises retaining means arranged for retaining a container inthe transporting device while being brought from the first receivingarea to the second receiving area.

Item 5. The device according to any of the preceding items, wherein theelevating member is arranged to single out a container from the bulk ofcontainers by means of a scooping action, a nudging action or a pushingaction of the elevating member.

Item 6. The device according to any of the preceding items, wherein thesecond receiving area is a portion of a plate or a conveyor belt.

Item 7. The device according to any of the preceding items, wherein thetransporting device and the second receiving area are arranged such thata container being brought from the first receiving area by thetransporting device leaves the transporting device due to the act ofgravity or by a sliding motion and enters the second receiving area.

Item 8. The device according to any of the preceding items, wherein thefirst axis, when projected onto the horizontal plane, is orthogonal ordeviates from being orthogonal with 0° to 20° with respect to a maintransportation direction of a container in the second receiving area.

Item 9. The device according to any of items 1 to 7, wherein the firstaxis, when projected onto the horizontal plane, is parallel or deviatesfrom being parallel with 0° to 20° with respect to a main transportationdirection of a container in the second receiving area.

Item 10. The device according to any of the preceding items, wherein thetransporting device is arranged such that at portion of, or the wholeof, the elevating member is arranged to travel through at least aportion of the first receiving area upon activation of the transportingdevice.

Item 11. The device according to any of the preceding items, wherein thelength of the elevating member in the radial direction is between 2-20cm, and/or wherein the length of the elevating member in orthogonal tothe radial direction is between 2-20

CM.

Item 12. The device according to any of the preceding items, wherein thesecond receiving area comprises means for transporting a containertowards a container inspection area.

Item 13. The device according item 12, wherein the container inspectionarea comprises inspection means, the inspection means comprising acamera and/or a scanner, and a decision unit arranged for receiving asignal from the inspection means and based on this signal being arrangedto sending a container to a sorting station, back to the first receivingarea or to an outfeed of the device.

Item 14. A reverse vending machine comprising a device according to anyof the preceding items.

Item 15. A method for singulating used beverage or food containersreceived in bulk into individual objects, comprising:

providing a bulk of containers in a first receiving area;

providing a transporting device comprising a container elevating memberfor transporting a container from said first receiving area to a secondreceiving area being arranged at a higher vertical level compared to thefirst receiving area, wherein said container elevating member isattached to said transporting device,

activating said transporting device, upon which activation saidtransporting device moves said container elevating member along a fullcircumferential path around a first axis, said first axis being inclinedat an angle of 0° to 45° relative the horizontal plane, and saidcontainer elevating member is locked to said circumferential path duringthe elevation of said container from said first receiving area to adrop-off point, and

when being transported along said circumferential path said containerelevating member passes from a container pick-up section, via acontainer drop-off point, to its top most position in the verticaldirection,

wherein the container elevating member, when arranged at the drop-offpoint along said circumferential path, a container supporting surface ofthe container elevating member slopes downwardly as seen radiallyinwards.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a device for singulation of objects, such as usedbeverage and food containers, received in bulk into individual objects.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the device for singulation ofused food or beverage containers.

FIG. 3a illustrates a third embodiment of the device for singulation ofused food or beverage containers.

FIG. 3b is a top view of the embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 3 a,

FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the device forsingulation of used food or beverage containers,

FIG. 4b is a perspective view of a section of the device of FIG. 4 a,

FIG. 5a is a top view of the device of FIG. 4a , showing the anglebetween the first axis and the main transportation direction of thecontainers,

FIG. 5b is a side view of the device of FIG. 4a , showing the anglebetween the first axis and a horizontal plane,

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of a section of the device of FIG. 4ashowing the retaining means, the secondary retaining means, and thetertiary retaining means,

FIG. 6b is a side view of the rotatable plate of the device of FIG. 4a ,as seen along the first axis,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the back side of the rotatable plate ofthe device of FIG. 4a , showing the flange extending around theperiphery of the rotatable plate,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a front of a reverse vending machinecomprising a closing device according to one exemplary embodiment of afifth aspect of the present inventive concept, wherein said closingdevice is in an open state,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a front of a reverse vending machinecomprising a closing device according to another exemplary embodiment ofthe fifth aspect of the present inventive concept, wherein said closingdevice is in an open state,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a front of a reverse vending machinecomprising a closing device according to another exemplary embodiment ofthe fifth aspect of the present inventive concept, wherein said closingdevice is in a closed state,

FIGS. 11 and 12 are a perspective views of a front of a reverse vendingmachine comprising a closing device according to another exemplaryembodiment of the fifth aspect of the present inventive concept, whereinsaid closing device is in a closed state and an open state,respectively,

FIGS. 13 and 14 are a perspective views of a front of a reverse vendingmachine comprising a closing device according to another exemplaryembodiment of the fifth aspect of the present inventive concept, whereinsaid closing device is in a closed state and an open state,respectively,

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a front of a reverse vending machinecomprising a closing device according to another exemplary embodiment ofthe fifth aspect of the present inventive concept, wherein said closingdevice is in an intermediate state,

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a front of a reverse vending machinecomprising a closing device according to one exemplary embodiment of thefifth aspect of the present inventive concept, as seen from the back,

FIGS. 17a and 17b illustrate an embodiment of the device for singulationof used food or beverage containers.

FIG. 18 illustrates one exemplifying sequence of steps that may be usedfor controlling the in-feed of the reverse vending machine in accordancewith one aspect of the inventive concept, and

FIG. 19 illustrates one example of how a signal may be directed in areverse vending machine according one aspect of the inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A device 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″ for receiving objects, such as empty disposablehollow bodies, e.g. used food and/or beverage containers, in bulk andforwarding them individually for further processing will now bediscussed more in detail with reference to the appended drawings.

In this document, used beverage or food containers may also be referredto as objects.

The bulk of food and/or beverage containers received by the device 1,1′, 1″, 1′″ may be assorted and of different shapes and sizes. Forexample, the containers may be cans, odd-shaped, cylindrical or squarebottles, TetraPak containers etc.

The used beverage or food containers typically have an elongated shape,they can for example be substantially cylindrical.

Furthermore, the food or beverage containers may be made of differentmaterials, such as plastic, paper, metal or glass, or a combinationthereof.

The smallest container the device 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″ is able to receive andprocess may have half the height of the largest container being possibleto receive and process by the device.

The device 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″ may be adapted for being able to receive andprocess the different standard sizes of containers in differentcountries.

The device 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″ may be placed in a cabinet. As an alternativethe device may be free-standing.

The device 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″ may be located in e.g. a local store, aresidential area or a car park, for receiving and processing usedbeverage and/or food containers from consumers, or in an industrialbuilding for sorting and processing of used beverage or food containers.

The device 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″ may also be placed in e.g. cargo container,e.g. at a festival area, for receiving used beverage and/or foodcontainers.

Moreover, the device 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″ may be used to upgrade an existingreverse vending machine, and be placed in a cabinet of such a reversevending machine. Optionally, some of the existing hardware and/orsoftware are used also after the upgrade. Hence, the size of the devicemay be adapted to the standard size of already existing reverse vendingmachines.

A first embodiment of the device 1 will now be discussed in detail withreference to FIG. 1.

The device 1 in FIG. 1a has a first receiving area 2 into which thecontainers are collected after entering the device.

The device 1 comprises a rotatable transporting device 4 provided withan elevating member 5 for transporting containers from the firstreceiving area 2 to a second receiving area 3. The elevating member 5moves along and is locked to a circumferential path around a first axisx upon activation of the transporting device 4, which first axis x isinclined at an angle of 0 to 45° relative the horizontal plane.

Upon activation, here rotation, of the transporting device 4, theelevating member 5 randomly brings the containers, one by one, from thefirst receiving area 2 to the second receiving area 3.

The container is elevated by the elevating member 5 from the firstreceiving area 2 by a scooping, pushing or nudging action.

When the container is at a predetermined vertical position, theso-called drop-off point, it leaves the elevating member 5 of thetransporting device 4 and falls by means of gravity, alternativelyslides off by a sliding motion, to the second receiving area 3.

Hence, the transport of the containers from the first receiving area 2to the second receiving area 3 takes place mainly in the vertical plane.

The container may then be forwarded to an inspection area 19 providedwith inspection means 7 for identification of the container, see FIG. 1.

Based on the result of the identification, the container may beforwarded for further inspection, counting, recording, evaluating,sorting, storing, recycling, be returned to the user, or be returned tothe first receiving area 2.

The transporting device 4 may be designed in different ways, for exampleit may comprise a substantially circular plate 9 as illustrated inFIG. 1. Such a plate may be solid or be provided with openings orapertures.

As an alternative the transporting device 4 may be a circular frame witha central opening.

Alternatively, the transporting device may be a conveyor belt to whichthe elevating member 5 is fixedly attached (not shown).

As a further alternative the transporting device 4 may be a wheel with ahub to which a number of spokes, each of which is provided withelevating members at its outer periphery (not shown).

The transporting device 4 may comprise 1-20, 1-15, 2-25 or 5-10elevating members 5.

The number of the elevating members 5 may depend on the size of thetransporting device 4. The elevating members 5 may be equally spaced ornon-equally spaced around the transporting device 4.

The elevating member 5 may have a size and design adapted for bringingcontainers of different shapes and sizes collected in the firstreceiving area 2 to the second receiving area 3.

As seen in FIG. 1 the elevating member 5 may extend radially from theouter periphery of the transporting device 4 towards the center of thetransporting device.

As an alternative, the elevating member 5 may be arranged such that atleast a portion thereof extends radially outwards from the outerperiphery of the transporting device 4, as shown in FIG. 3 a.

If the transporting device 4 comprises more than one elevating member 5,the size of the elevating members may, but need not, be the same.

As an alternative, the sizes of the elevating members may be differentsuch that different elevating members 5 are adapted for different typesor sizes of containers.

The distance between the elevating members 5 may be adapted to thediameter of the transporting device and hence to the application of thedevice 1.

As a non-binding example, the number of the elevating members may beeight and the diameter of the transporting device may be 1000 mm.Furthermore, the elevating members may extend radially inwards to thecenter of the transporting device by 100 mm and axially by 150 mm.

The elevating member 5 and/or the container supporting surface of theelevating member may for example be rectangular, elliptical, flat,cup-shaped, formed as a paddle or shovel etc., or be a combination ofthese such as flat and rectangular. It may be solid or have smallopenings.

If the transporting device 4 comprises more than one elevating member 5,the shape of the elevating members may, but need not, be the same.

Further, each elevating member 5 may, but need not, be provided with arim arranged at the outer periphery of the elevating member, andextending in the transport direction, for providing additional supportto the container upon transport of the container from the firstreceiving area 2 to the second receiving area 3. Each elevating member 5may additionally or alternatively be provided with a rim extending in adirection substantially orthogonal to the first axis.

The transporting device 4 may be arranged such that it is substantiallyparallel with a main transportation direction A of a container moving inthe second receiving area 3.

As seen in FIG. 1, the transporting device 4 may further be arrangedsubstantially vertically such that the first axis x around which uponthe transporting device is rotating may be inclined with respect to thehorizontal plane. In FIG. 1, the inclination of the first axis is about15-20° with respect to the horizontal plane.

The inclination of the first axis x and hence the transporting device 4may make it easier for the elevating means 5 to single out a containerfrom the first receiving area 2.

The inclination of the first axis x and hence the transporting devicemay also prevent the containers from falling off the transporting device4 upon activation, i.e. rotation, of the transporting device before thecontainer reaches the drop-off point.

The transporting device 4 may be rotatable in the clockwise oranti-clockwise direction.

The transporting device 4 may be activated by a motor. Additionally oralternatively, the transporting device 4 may be activated by a drivingwheel (not shown) arranged such that it is in contact with thetransporting device 4. Upon activation of such driving wheel, by e.g. amotor, the transporting device may be activated. The motor may becontrolled by a control unit.

The transporting device 4 may be made of metal, plastic, wood or acombination thereof.

The transporting device 4 may further comprise a retaining means 6. Thepurpose of the retaining means 6 is to retain the containers in thetransporting device 4 when bringing the containers from the firstreceiving area 2 to the second receiving area 3.

As seen in FIG. 1, the retaining means 6 may be a peripheral barrier.The retaining means 6 may be arranged at and extend along the outerperiphery of the transporting device 4 from the first receiving area tothe drop off point. The retaining means may also have a shorterextension, and extend only along a portion of the peripheral distancebetween from the first receiving area to the drop off point.Additionally or alternatively, the retaining means extends also beyondthe drop off point.

The retaining means 6 may be connected to an external frame and, hence,not being attached to the transporting device 4.

As an alternative, the retaining means 6 may be fixedly connected to thetransporting device 4.

The retaining means 6 may e.g. be a rim made e.g. plastics, metal orwood.

As discussed above the containers received in bulk are collected in thefirst receiving area 2 after entering the device 1. The containers arethen kept in the first receiving area 2 until they are randomly broughtfrom the first receiving area 2 to the second receiving area 3 by theelevating member 5.

As seen in FIG. 1, the lower part of the first receiving area 2 may bearranged substantially horizontal and at a lower part of thetransporting device 4.

The size and shape of the first receiving area 2 may be adapted forreceiving containers of different sizes and shapes in bulk.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first receiving area 2 may be formed as areceptacle. As an example the first receiving area may be bowl-shaped.

The bottom of the first receiving area 2 may be curved having the sameor a similar curvature as the periphery of the transporting device 4.

The first receiving area 2 may be adapted such that the elevating member5 travelling through the first receiving area 2 may be able to bringcontainers from the first receiving area.

A lower vertical portion of the transporting device 4 may form an innerwall of the first receiving area 2.

The first receiving area 2 may be made of e.g. metal and/or plastic.

Furthermore, as seen in FIG. 1, the device 1 comprises a secondreceiving area 3 for receiving the containers brought by the elevatingmembers 5 arranged at the transporting device 4 from the first receivingarea 2.

The second receiving area 3 may be arranged adjacent to the transportingdevice 4 and at a higher vertical level with respect to the firstreceiving area 2.

The second receiving area 3 may be positioned substantially horizontallyin the center of the transporting device, but may also be arranged at alower or higher position.

In FIG. 1, the second receiving area 3 is a plate which is tiltedoutwards with respect to the transporting device 4. The tilt of theplate may enable the forwarding towards the container inspection area.

The second receiving area 3 may have an elongated shape in thehorizontal direction.

Depending on the extension of the second receiving area 3 in thehorizontal direction, it may have recesses at one or both ends adaptedsuch that the elevating member 5 arranged on the transporting device 4can pass upon activation of the transporting device 4.

The second receiving area 3, being a plate, may be made of a material oflow surface friction such as stainless steel, aluminum or a suitableplastic material.

Adjacent, or slightly below, the second receiving area 3 there may be athird receiving area 14, such as a conveyor belt for facilitatingtransport of the containers towards the container inspection area, seeFIG. 1.

The conveyor belt of the third receiving area may be a V conveyor or aflat conveyor.

As an alternative the second receiving area 3 and the third receivingarea 14 may be one and the same. Such arrangement may comprise solely ofa conveyor belt onto which the containers fall and are transported tothe container inspection area 19 (not shown).

As a further alternative if the second receiving area 3 and the thirdreceiving area 14 are the same, the arrangement may comprise solely of aplate made of a material with low surface friction, such as metal or asuitable plastic material, which is tilted towards the inspection area19 such that the containers received at the combined second and thirdreceiving area slides towards the inspection area 19.

As seen in FIG. 1, the device 1 may further comprise an inspection area19 provided with inspection means 7 through which the containers aretransported in order to identify the container. Based on the informationobtained by the inspection means 7, the container may be either acceptedor rejected. There are several different options how an accepted orrejected container can be handled.

According to one example, if being accepted the container may beforwarded to a box (not shown), for example a box for containers to berecycled. As an alternative there may be several different boxes towhich an accepted container may be forwarded, depending on e.g. the typeand/or size of the container.

If being rejected, the container may be transported back to the firstreceiving area 2, back to the user, or directly to a trash collector 12.

The inspection means 7 may be a camera or a scanner, such as a bar codereader.

As an example, the inspection means 7 may be an OneRing system whichcomprises a camera for identifying a large part of the container. Thecamera of the OneRing system may be able to handle 80 to 220 objects perminute.

There may be further number and types of inspection means, e.g. cameras,scanners etc., arranged in series or in parallel in order to obtaindifferent information of the containers such that the containers can besorted based on this information.

The inspection area 19 may further be provided with a decision unitarranged for receiving a signal from the inspection means 7 and based onthis signal being arranged to send a container to a sorting station,back to the first receiving area 2 or to an outfeed 21 of the device 1.

A container may be rejected if the inspection means 7 is not able toidentify the container. If being rejected, the container may be sentback to the first receiving area 2 in order to provide for another readof the container. This may be done by a conveyor belt (not shown)positioned on a lowering mechanism and being arranged after theinspection area 19 with respect to the transport direction A of acontainer in the second receiving area 3 and/or third receiving area 14.Such a conveyor may be folded down and thereby forwarding the containerback to the first receiving area 2.

As an alternative, a rejected container may be returned back, via anoutfeed 21 to the user, such that the user can determine whether he orshe should insert the container in the device once again, throw away orkeep the container. This may be done by a conveyor belt.

The first receiving area 2 may be mounted onto brackets which may bemounted onto or in connection with a trash collector 12, see FIG. 1.Such a trash collector may hence be situated below the first receivingarea 2. The trash collector may have any shape, e.g. rectangular shape.

The trash collector may be releasable connected to the device such thatit can be released and the trash collector can be emptied.

The first receiving area may further be provided with a loweringmechanism in connection with the brackets, a so-called drop-down chute13.

Hence, the first receiving area 2 may be emptied by means of loweringthe drop-down chute 13 such that the containers in the first receivingarea 2 fall into the trash collector 12. This may be useful when manycontainers have been returned to the first receiving area 2.

For example, the first receiving area 2 may be emptied after a certaintime of activation of the transporting device 4, or after a certainnumber of containers have been rejected and thus returned back to thefirst receiving area 2.

The containers ending up in the trash collector 12 may be taken care ofand sorted manually or just being regarded as garbage.

The device 1 may further comprise an infeed 8 for facilitating thecontainers to enter the first receiving area 2.

The infeed 8 may be connected to the first receiving area 2.

In the absence of infeed 8, there may only be an opening in e.g. acabinet in which the device 1 is placed, to which the containers can befed. Such an opening may hence be arranged adjacent to the firstreceiving area 2.

The size of the opening may be adapted to allow containers of differentsizes and shapes to enter into the device 1 and to fulfill therequirements of the safety standard NS-EN 349:1992+A1:2008.

Moreover, the distance between the opening and the transporting device 4may be adapted to fulfill the requirement of the standard, ISO13857:2008, Safety of machines.

According to a further safety standard, ISO 13857:2008 of machines, theopening should comprise different safety arrangement for preventinginjuries. For example, it can comprise a light curtain with a light beamwhich functions such that, when the device 1 is running, the device isimmediately shut down when the light beam is broken.

The infeed 8 may comprise a tray which may be slightly tilted withrespect to the horizontal plane in order to facilitate the containers tobe forwarded to the first receiving area 2.

The infeed may be made of a plastic material, metal and/or wood.

The infeed 8 may further comprise rims on both sides in order to retainthe containers being forwarded towards the first receiving area 2 and toprevent the containers from falling off the infeed upon being forwardedto the first receiving area 2.

The tray may be provided with slits in order to handle loose objects,e.g. pieces of paper such as labels from containers, into which theloose objects can fall.

Loose objects may fall onto a steep surface located below the infeed andbe guided directly or via a funnel 11 to a trash collector.

The trash collector may, but need not, be the same as the trashcollector 12 or containers discussed above.

The infeed 8 may further comprise a conveyor belt in order to furtherfacilitate transport of the containers from the tray towards the firstreceiving area 2. The conveyer belt may be arranged between the tray andthe first receiving area of the device 1 and hence being adapted to thesize of the infeed and the opening of the device.

Such a conveyor belt may comprise rims on both sides in the longitudinaldirection in order to prevent the objects from falling off from theconveyor and to retain the containers towards the first receiving area2.

The conveyor belt may be positioned substantially horizontal withrespect to the horizontal plane.

Alternatively the infeed 8 may comprise solely a tray or solely aconveyor belt.

A second embodiment of the device 1′ which is similar to the embodimentof the device 1 described above will now be discussed with reference toFIG. 2. The device 1′ of the second embodiment differs from the device 1of the first embodiment in that it is provided with additional retainingmeans 10′ and in that the second receiving area 3′ is arrangeddifferently.

In this device 1′ additional retaining means 10′ may optionally bearranged radially inside the transporting device 4′ and is arrangedradially below the elevating means 5′.

The retaining means 10′ may be curved and extend at least along aportion of the peripheral distance along which the container is broughtbetween the first receiving area 2′ and the second receiving area 3′.

The purpose of the retaining means 10′ is to prevent the containers fromfalling off the transporting device 4′ before reaching the drop-offpoint when being brought from the first receiving area 2′ to the secondreceiving area 3′.

The retaining means 10′ may be arranged on an external frame.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second receiving area 3′ may be located at ahigher vertical level as compared to the second receiving area of thedevice in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1 above.

The containers may be forwarded from the elevating member 5′ to thesecond receiving area 3′ by means of gravity as discussed above.

Alternatively, they may slide off the elevating member 5′ by a slidingmotion when the elevating member 5′ has brought a container to apredetermined vertical position, i.e. the so-called drop-off point.

How the container is released from or leaves the elevating member 5′ maydepend on the distance between the so-called drop-off point and thesecond receiving area 3′.

As seen in FIG. 2, the second receiving area 3′ may be arranged at ahigher part in the vertical plane of the transporting device 4′ ascompared to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 2the second receiving area 3′ may extend outwards from the transportingdevice 4′ in the horizontal plane.

The second receiving area 3′ and/or the third receiving area 14′ mayfurther be provided with a retaining member 18′ for retaining thecontainers upon being forwarded towards the inspection area 19′. Theretaining member 18′ may extend along the whole or a portion of thesecond receiving area 3′ and/or third receiving area 14′. The retainingmember 18′ may be present on one or both sides of the second receivingarea 3′ and/or third receiving area 14′.

A third embodiment of the device 1″ will now be discussed with referenceto FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b . The device 1″ of the third embodiment differsfrom the device 1 in FIG. 1 mainly in how the transporting device 4″ isarranged in relation to the rest of the components of the device 1″.

As seen in FIG. 3a and in FIG. 3b , the transporting device 4″ may bearranged such that the first axis x of the transporting device 4″ issubstantially parallel with respect to a main transportation direction Aof a container in the second receiving area 3″ and/or third receivingarea 14′.

As shown in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b (see also, FIGS. 17a-17b ), thetransporting device 4″ may be provided as a frame 9″ with a centralopening. Alternatively, it may be a solid plate as discussed above.

If the transporting device 4″ is provided as a frame 9″, as shown inFIG. 3a and FIG. 3b , the transporting device 1″ may be activated by adriving wheel (not shown) as described above.

Moreover, as seen in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b , the elevating member 5″ maybe arranged such that at least a portion thereof extends radiallyoutwards from the outer periphery of the transporting device 4″. As analternative the elevating member may be arranged as described above,i.e. that it extends radially inwards towards the center of thetransporting device 4″.

In FIG. 3a , two bottles that have just been singulated or picked-up areeach in contact with a container supporting surface of a respectivecontainer elevating member.

The device 1″ may have additional retaining means 10″ for retaining acontainer being brought from the first receiving area 2″ to the secondreceiving area 3″. The retaining means 10″ may be arranged radiallyinside the transporting device 4″. The retaining means may be connectedto an external frame of the device 1″.

The retaining means 10″ may extend at least along a portion of the pathalong which the container is brought between the first receiving area 2″and the second receiving area 3″.

Optionally the device 1″ may have a rotating plate or surface 20″arranged at the top of the transporting device 4″ guiding a container tochange travel direction of the container, forcing the container to leavethe transporting device 4″ and enter the second receiving area 3″.

Such a rotating plate may be arranged on the retaining means 10″.

The device 1″ may be provided with further retaining means 18″ extendingalong the second receiving area 3″ and/or the third receiving area 14″in order to retain the containers and to prevent them from falling offthe second receiving area 3″ and/or third receiving area 14″.

After being identified the container may be sorted by means of apropeller wheel 17″.

The propeller wheel 17″ may for example be arranged at or in nearvicinity of the inspection means 7″.

The arrangement of a propeller wheel for sorting of containers may beused also in the first and second embodiments of the device as discussedabove.

The propeller wheel 17″ may be rotatable clockwise or anti-clockwise.Hence, depending on the propelling direction the propeller wheel mayforward a container either to a first conveyor belt 15″ or to a secondconveyor belt 16″ arranged on either side of the device 1″.

The conveyor belts 15″ 16″ may be arranged at a lower position in thevertical plane as compared to the second receiving area 3″ and/or thirdreceiving area 14″.

The first conveyor belt 15″ may extend such that it is arranged from theend of the inspection area 19″ to the first receiving area 2″, see FIG.3a . The transport direction of a container travelling on the conveyorbelt 15″ and conveyor belt 16″ may be the opposite as compared to thetransport direction A of a container travelling on the second receivingarea 3″ and/or the third receiving area 14″.

As seen in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b , the conveyor belt 15″ and conveyor belt16″ may be arranged through the center of the frame 9″ of thetransporting device 4″ in the horizontal plane.

Hence, the first conveyor belt 15″ may be arranged such that a containerforwarded to the first conveyor belt may be transported back to thefirst receiving area 2″. This may be useful if e.g. the inspection means7″ do not get a proper reading of the container and, hence, is not ableto identify the container.

Hence, the second conveyor 16″ belt may be arranged such that acontainer being forwarded to the second conveyor belt may be transportedback through the transporting device 4″ to the user of the device 1″.

A fourth embodiment of the device 1′″ will now be discussed withreference to FIGS. 4a -7. The device 1′″ of the fourth embodimentdiffers from the device 1″ in FIGS. 3a and 3b mainly in how the secondreceiving area is arranged in relation to the transporting device 4′″and in how the retaining means (6′″, 10′″, 2001) are arranged. Thedevice 1′″ in FIG. 4a has a first receiving area 2′″ into which thecontainers are collected after entering the device 1′″.

The device 1′″ comprises a rotatable transporting device 4′″ providedwith elevating members 5′″ for transporting containers from the firstreceiving area 2′″ to a second receiving area 3′″. The transportingdevice 4′″ in FIG. 4a is provided as a rotatable plate 9′″, similar tothat of the previous embodiments but lacking the through-hole of thethird embodiment. Moreover, the elevating members 5′″ are arranged suchthat at least a portion thereof extends radially outwards from the outerperiphery of the transporting device 4′″, just as in the thirdembodiment of the invention. The elevating members 5′″ move along andare locked to a circumferential path around a first axis x uponactivation of the transporting device 4′″, which first axis x isinclined at an angle α₄ of approximately 20° relative the horizontalplane. This angle α₄ is shown in FIG. 5 b.

Upon activation, here rotation, of the transporting device 4′″, theelevating member 5′″ randomly brings the containers, one by one, fromthe first receiving area 2′″ to the second receiving area 3′″. This isshown in FIG. 4b . The container is elevated by the elevating member 5′″from the first receiving area 2′″ by a scooping, pushing or nudgingaction.

When the container is at a predetermined vertical position, theso-called drop-off point, it leaves the container supporting surface ofthe elevating member 5′″ of the transporting device 4′″ and slides offby a sliding motion to the second receiving area 3′″, herein embodied bya conveyor belt 14″. Hence, the transport of the containers from thefirst receiving area 2′″ to the second receiving area 3′″ takes placemainly in the vertical plane.

The transporting device 4′″ shown in FIG. 4a comprises 8 elevatingmembers 5′″. The number of the elevating members 5′″ depend on the sizeof the transporting device 4′″. The elevating members 5′″ are equallyspaced in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4a , and have a size and designadapted for bringing containers of different shapes and sizes collectedin the first receiving area 2′″ to the second receiving area 3′″.

As seen in FIG. 4a , the elevating members 5′″ may extend radially fromthe outer periphery of the transporting device 4′″ and away from thecenter of the rotatable plate 9′″ of the transporting device 4′″.

In FIG. 4b , one bottle that has just been singulated or picked-up is incontact with a container supporting surface of a container elevatingmember 5′″. Another container which has not been picked up lies in thefirst receiving area 2′″, waiting to be picked up by a containerelevating member 5′″. The container elevating members 5′″ are arrangedat an angle α₁ relative to the rotatable plate 9′″, wherein this angleα₁ is approximately 105°.

The device 1′″ has retaining means 6′″ arranged radially outwards of aportion of the circumference of the circumferential path of thecontainer elevating members 5′″. The retaining means 6′″ is flexiblyconnected to the device 1′″ such that it may deflect radially outwardswhen a container larger than the space between the retaining means 6′″and the container elevating members is moved from the first receivingarea 2′″ to the second receiving area 3′″. This is clearly shown in FIG.4b . This allows the retaining means 6′″ to exert a constant pressure onthe containers transported on the container elevating members 5′″, thushelping to keep them in place. The retaining means 6′″ may be fixedlyconnected to the device 1′″ in one end 2002. As shown in FIG. 4b , theretaining means 6′″ is fixedly connected to the device 1′″ at a locationhalfway between the second receiving area 3′″ and the first receivingarea 2′″. In other words, using a standard 12-hour clock as a referencefor the front surface of the rotatable plate 9′″, the retaining means6′″ extends from about 9 o'clock on the rotatable plate 9′″ toapproximately 11 or 12 o'clock. The retaining means 6′″ can be seen as aleaf spring configured to exert pressure on the containers as they aretransported from the first receiving area 2′″ to the second receivingarea 3′″.

The device 1′″ further comprises secondary retaining means 2001, notshown in FIG. 4b , arranged for retaining a container on the containerelevating members 5′″ while the container is being brought from thefirst receiving area 2′″ to the second receiving area 3′″. The secondaryretaining means 2001 is more clearly shown in FIG. 6a . The secondaryretaining means 2001 is a barrier that is substantially parallel withthe transporting device 4′″, i.e. a wall offset from the transportingdevice 4′″. The wall or secondary retaining means 2001 is seen in FIG.6a as being arranged at a distance from the transporting device 4′″ suchthat a container may fit between the rotatable plate 9′″ of thetransporting device 4′″ and the secondary retaining means 2001. Thus,the secondary retaining means 2001, in combination with the rotatableplate 9′″ and the other retaining means 6′″, 10′″, forms a channel orpassage through which the containers may pass as they move from thefirst receiving area 2′″ to the second receiving area 3′″.

As seen in FIGS. 5a and 5b , the transporting device 4′″ is arrangedsuch that the first axis x of the transporting device 4′″ is arranged atan angle α₃ relative to a main transportation direction A of a containerin the second receiving area 3′. This angle is neither perpendicular, asin the first and second embodiment described above, nor parallel, as inthe third embodiment described above. Instead, the first axis x isangled somewhere between, at an angle α₃ of around 105° relative to themain transporting direction A of the container in the second receivingarea 3′″.

As is seen in FIG. 6, the secondary retaining means 2001 is flexiblyconnected to the device 1′″ by means of two flexible connection means,i.e. two leaf springs, such that the secondary retaining means 2001 maydeflect in a direction that is substantially parallel with the firstaxis x. This is to be understood as meaning that the distance betweenthe secondary retaining means 2001 and the rotatable plate 9′″ of thetransporting device 4′″ may be increased by a container passingtherebetween, thus causing the secondary retaining means 2001 toflexibly deflect outwards and away from the transporting device 4′″.Just as the secondary retaining means 2001 is caused to flexibly deflectaway from the transporting device 4′″, it also pushes back against thecontainers, thus holding them in place on the container elevatingmembers 5′″. Additionally, the secondary retaining means 2001 comprisesa guiding flange 2003. The guiding flange 2003 is a portion of thesecondary retaining means 2001 that protrudes away from the transportingdevice 4′″ at an angle as relative to the remainder of the secondaryretaining means 2001. This angle as is approximately 135°, and thishelps align containers that are slightly misaligned with thecircumferential path of the container elevating members 5′″. This alsoensures that the containers are held in place on the container elevatingmembers 5′″ as they are transported from the first receiving area 2′″ tothe second receiving area 3′″. Finally, as is seen in FIG. 6b , thesecondary retaining means 2001 extend from a position proximal to thedrop-off point of the containers, to a position slightly less thanhalfway between the first receiving area and the drop-off point. Inother words, the secondary retaining means 2001 extends from 12 o'clockon the rotatable plate 9′″ to approximately 10 o'clock.

The device 1′″ also has tertiary retaining means 10′″ for retaining acontainer being brought from the first receiving area 2′″ to the secondreceiving area 3′″. The tertiary retaining means 10′″ is arrangedradially inwards of the circumferential path of the container elevatingmembers 5′″. Furthermore, the tertiary retaining means 10′″ comprises acontainer supporting surface proximal to an uppermost portion of thetransporting device 4′″ and which surface is facing radially outwards.Thus, containers elevated by the container elevating members 5′″ mayrest on a container supporting surface of the tertiary retaining means10′″ as they are transported from the first receiving area 2′″ to thesecond receiving area 3′″. The tertiary retaining means 10′″ is fixedlyconnected to the device 1′″ by means of an arm extending in a directionsubstantially parallel with a horizontal projection of the first axis x.

The tertiary retaining means 10′″ extends along a portion of thecircumferential path along which the container is brought between thefirst receiving area 2′″ and the second receiving area 3″. Specifically,the tertiary retaining means 10′″ extends along approximately 20% of thecircumference of the rotatable plate 9″. The extension of the tertiaryretaining means 10′″ is measured as a percentage of a 360° circlecentered around the first axis x. One end of the tertiary retainingmeans 10′″ is located at a position proximal to the container drop-offpoint, i.e. at a position proximal to 12 o'clock on the rotatable plate9′. In other words, the tertiary retaining means 10′″ extends from anupper portion of the rotatable plate 9′ and down towards the firstreceiving area 2′.

The tertiary retaining means 10′″ further comprises a wedge-shapedportion arranged to deflect containers from the container supportingsurface of the elevating members 5′ if the containers are misalignedthereon. This wedge-shaped portion tapers off in a circumferentialdirection towards the first receiving area 2′. In other words, thewedge-shaped portion points towards the first receiving area 2″. Thewedge-shaped portion of the tertiary retaining means 10′ tapers both ina radial direction and in an axial direction, thus ending in a point ata position at approximately 9 o'clock on the rotatable plate 9′. As seenin FIG. 4b , the wedge-shaped portion tapers off at an angle α₂ ofapproximately 20°.

Looking at FIG. 7, it is shown that the device 1′ has a flange that isfixedly connected to the circumference of the rotatable plate 9′″ andwhich flange extends towards the second receiving area 3′. The secondreceiving area 3′″ is located behind the rotatable plate 9′. In otherwords, the flange extends from an outer periphery of the rotatable plate9′ and backwards, beyond the back surface of the rotatable plate 9′. Theflange is arranged to guide a container as it moves from resting on thecontainer elevating elements 5′″ to sliding onto the second receivingarea 3″.

As the flange extends backwards from the rotatable plate 9′, it acts asa bridging surface between the container elevating members 5′″ and thesecond receiving area 3″. Thus, the risk of containers or other objectsfalling down behind the rotatable plate 9′″ as the containers aretransported from the container elevating members 5′″ to the secondreceiving area 3′″ is reduced. The flange is arranged at an angle α₆relative to the rotatable plate 9′″, wherein this angle as isapproximately 80°. Thus, the containers are caused to slide across theflange and down towards the second receiving area 3′″ and the conveyorbelt 13′″ once the container elevating members 5′″ reach a containerdrop-off point.

The device 1′″ further comprises a V-conveyor 14′″, i.e. a conveyorbelt. The second receiving area comprises one end of this conveyor belt14′″, the conveyor belt 14′″ being arranged at an angle relative to ahorizontal projection of the first axis x. This angle is approximately105°. Thus, the conveyor belt 14′″ extends from the second receivingarea 3′″ and backwards, away from the front of the device 1′″ and theuser.

The conveyor belt 14′″ is a V-conveyor, and comprises two belts. Onebelt, the one that is located closest to the rotatable plate 9′″, isshorter than the other belt. This means that the conveyor belt 14′″ maybe arranged closer to the rotatable plate 9′″ than what would have beenpossible if the two belts had been equally long. As the conveyor belt14′″ is arranged at an angle relative the rotatable plate 9′″, havingone band offset the other allows the conveyor belt 14′″ to be arrangedcloser to the transporting device. Thus, the amount of non-activebridging surfaces between the rotatable plate 9′″ and the secondreceiving area 3′″ is reduced.

The conveyor belt 14′″ has a width that is approximately 65-70 mm, asmeasured in a direction that is perpendicular to a transportingdirection of the conveyor belt 14′″ and that is parallel with thehorizontal plane. This enables misaligned containers to more easily falloff the conveyor belt 14′″ on their own, without being forced to do soby means of e.g. a sorting device or sorting arrangement, Thus, a moreefficient sorting of misaligned containers is achieved. Finally, the twobelts of the conveyor belt 14′″ are arranged at an angle relative toeach other. This angle is approximately 50°.

Subsequent to the second receiving area 3′″, there is located aninspection area and a sorting station (not shown). Said inspection areamay comprise inspection means for identifying a container, as isdescribed in relation to any of the previous embodiments. Said sortingstation may comprise pneumatic sorting means, such that after beingidentified by the inspection means, arranged along the direction oftravel of the conveyor belt 14′″, the container may be sorted at asorting station. This sorting station comprises a pneumatic sorter thatis arranged after the inspection means, as seen in the direction oftravel of the conveyor belt 14″. The pneumatic sorter is arranged topush invalid containers off the conveyor belt 14′″ by means of smallbursts of gas. The sorting station may alternatively be of the typediscussed in relation to the first, second or third embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a front of a reverse vending machinecomprising a closing device according to one exemplary embodiment of afifth aspect of the present inventive concept, wherein the closingdevice is in an open state. The fifth aspect of the present inventiveconcept may be used with any type of bulk sorting reverse vendingmachine or vending machine comprising means for bulk sorting.

The reverse vending machine 1 of FIGS. 8 and 10 comprises:

a first receiving area arranged for simultaneously receiving and keepinga plurality of containers which are to be singulated;

a first singulation transporting device comprising a containersingulator, which also may be referred to as elevating member, fortransporting individual containers from the first receiving area to asecond receiving area,

a second transporting device for transporting individual containers fromthe second receiving area to an inspection station, where the validityof the container is determined, and

a front comprising an in-feed 100 for guiding a bulk of containerstowards the first receiving area,

wherein the front further comprises:

a movable closing device 101 for closing the in-feed, which closingdevice is movable between an open state wherein the in-feed is open, anda closed state wherein the in-feed is closed,

automatic locking device configured to lock the movable closing devicein the closed state at the start of a container singulation session, andunlock the movable closing device at the end of the containersingulation session.

In FIG. 8 the movable closing device is arranged in the open state, andin FIG. 10 the movable closing device is arranged in the closed state.As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 the movable closing device is arrangedup stream of the in-feed, and is moved between the open and closed stateby a translating non-rotational movement following the outside surfaceof the front. The direction of motion of the movable closing device iscontrolled by guides 102 attached to the front of the reverse vendingmachine; to which guides the movable closing device is attached.

The size of the opening of the in-feed may be adapted to allowcontainers of different sizes and shapes to enter into the device 1 andto fulfill the requirements of the safety standard NS-EN349:1992+A1:2008.

Moreover, the distance between the opening and the singulationtransporting device may be adapted to fulfill the requirement of thestandard, ISO 13857:2008, Safety of machines.

According to a further safety standard, ISO 13857:2008 of machines, theopening should comprise different safety arrangement for preventinginjuries. For example, it can comprise a light curtain with a light beamwhich functions such that, when the device 1 is running, the device isimmediately shut down when the light beam is broken.

The infeed may comprise a tray which may be slightly tilted with respectto the horizontal plane in order to facilitate the containers to beforwarded to the first receiving area.

The infeed 100 may be made of a plastic material, metal and/or wood.

The infeed 100 may further comprise rims on both sides in order toretain the containers being forwarded towards the first receiving areaand to prevent the containers from falling off the infeed upon beingforwarded to the first receiving area.

The tray may be provided with slits in order to handle loose objects,e.g. pieces of paper such as labels from containers, into which theloose objects can fall.

Loose objects may fall onto a steep surface located below the infeed andbe guided directly or via a funnel to a trash collector.

The trash collector may, but need not, be the same as the trashcollector or containers discussed above.

The infeed may further comprise a conveyor belt in order to furtherfacilitate transport of the containers from the tray towards the firstreceiving area. The conveyer belt may be arranged between the tray andthe first receiving area of the device 1 and hence being adapted to thesize of the infeed and the opening of the device.

Such a conveyor belt may comprise rims on both sides in the longitudinaldirection in order to prevent the objects from falling off from theconveyor and to retain the containers towards the first receiving area.

The conveyor belt may be positioned substantially horizontal withrespect to the horizontal plane.

Alternatively, the infeed may comprise solely a tray or solely aconveyor belt.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a front of a reverse vending machineillustrating an alternative embodiment in the open state. Thisembodiment is equal to the one shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, except that themovable closing device is attached to the front by means of hinges, tothat the movable closing device may be rotated between an open andclosed state. In the closed state the position of the movable closingdevice is equal to the one illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a front of a reverse vending machineillustrating an alternative embodiment in the open state. Thisembodiment is equal to the one shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, except that themovable closing device is moved between the open and closed state by atranslating non-rotational movement, which movement follows a directiontransverse or orthogonal to the front surface of the machine asillustrated by the double arrows. FIG. 11 shows this movable closingdevice in the closed state.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a front of a reverse vending machineillustrating an alternative embodiment in the open state. Thisembodiment is equal to the one shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, except that themovable closing device is moved between the open and closed state by atranslating non-rotational movement, which movement follows a directiontransverse or to the front surface of the machine as illustrated by thedouble arrows. The direction of motion crosses the front surface of themachine at an angle between 5° and 80°, or between 10° and 60°. FIG. 13shows this movable closing device in the closed state.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8-14 the movable closing deviceis arranged up stream of the infeed.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a front of a reverse vending machineillustrating an alternative embodiment in an intermediate state, i.e. ina state between the open state and the closed state. This embodiment isequal to the one shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, except that the movableclosing device is flat and arranged within the infeed of the device;i.e. it is arranged downstream of the opening of the infeed andup-stream of the end of the in-feed. The movable closing device is movedbetween the open and closed state by a translating non-rotationalmovement, which movement may follow a direction parallel to the frontsurface of the machine as illustrated by the double arrows. When themovable closing device is arranged in the closed state, it fully coversthe passage formed by the infeed.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the front illustrated in FIGS. 13 and14, as seen from the back of the front. Here an optional funnel isprovided, for guiding the containers towards the first receiving area.Moreover, an optional back of the infeed 100′ is shown.

FIG. 18 illustrates one exemplifying sequence of steps that may be usedfor controlling the in-feed of the reverse vending machine in accordancewith the invention. First a bulk of objects are received through thein-feed of the reverse vending machine, 1001. Thereafter the singulationprocess is started, 1010, or the movable closing device is closed andlocked, 1020. That the singulation process is started before the closingof the movable closing device enables for the user to enter so manycontainers that a predetermined fill-level of the machine is reached andno more containers can or should be inserted (e.g. because the machinesignals that to the user), await that some of the containers provided tothe machine are processed so that the fill-level of the machinedecreases, where after the user may add more containers into themachine. When the user has provided all his/her containers into themachine, 1011, the movable closing device is closed (manually orautomatically), 1020, and automatically locked, 1021, so that the usermay leave the machine while the machine continues to process thecontainers. Once the singulation process has been completed, 1012, themoveable closing device is unlocked.

Alternatively, the movable closing device is closed and optionallylocked, 1020 and 1021, before, or at the same time as, the singulationprocess starts, 1010, this has the advantage that the user is protectedfrom injuries caused by moving parts inside the machine, which parts areactive at the singulation process; it also has the advantage of reducingnoise caused by the singulation process during the whole singulationprocess.

According to one exemplifying embodiment, the in-feed is open in theidle state, i.e. when the machine is waiting for a new user.Alternatively, the in-feed is closed in the idle state.

According to one method of operating a reverse vending machine forsingulation of used beverage or food containers received in bulk intoindividual objects, the method comprising the steps of:

-   -   providing a reverse vending machine having a first receiving        area arranged for simultaneously receiving and keeping a        plurality of containers which are to be singulated;    -   an in-feed; a first singulation transporting device for        individual transporting of containers from a first receiving        area to a second receiving area; a movable closing device for        closing the in-feed, which closing device is movable between an        open state wherein the in-feed is open, and a closed state        wherein the in-feed is closed;    -   receiving a bulk of used beverage or food containers through the        infeed;    -   receiving and keeping the bulk of used beverage or food        containers at the a first receiving area;    -   individual transporting of containers from the first receiving        area to a second receiving area,    -   protecting the user of the reverse vending machine,

wherein the step of protecting the user comprises the steps of:

-   -   providing an automatic locking device,    -   providing an activation signal to the automatic locking device        when the moveable closing device is to be locked, which        activation signal is issued based on one or two or all of the        following: the number of objects received at the first receiving        area, the rate at which containers or objects are received at        the first receiving area, the position of the movable closing        device,    -   providing a deactivation signal to the automatic locking device        when the moveable closing device is to be unlocked, which        activation signal is issued based on one or both of the        following: the number of objects or containers present in the        first receiving area, and the container transportation rate from        the first receiving area to the second receiving area,

or comprises the step of:

-   -   preventing a start of the individual transporting of containers        from the first receiving area to a second receiving area while        the moveable closing device is in an open state,

or comprises the step of:

-   -   halting the first singulation transporting device and        discontinuing the individual transporting of containers from the        first receiving area to a second receiving area in response to a        movement of the movable closing device to an open state.

The step of receiving and keeping the bulk of used beverage or foodcontainers at the first receiving area may further comprises the step ofcontinuously single out individual containers from the bulk ofcontainers in the first receiving area, and transporting the individualcontainer from the first receiving area to a second receiving area whichsecond receiving area is arranged at a higher vertical level.

FIG. 19 illustrates one example of how a signal may be directed in areverse vending machine according to the invention. Here, a singulationmonitoring device 2605, which may inform a control circuitry 2501 aboute.g. the fill level of the machine or the first receiving area, theamount of objects received at the first receiving area, the rate atwhich containers or objects are received at the first receiving area,the position of the movable closing device, the amount of objects orcontainers present in the first receiving area and/or the containertransportation rate from the first receiving area to the secondreceiving area. Based on this information the control circuitry 2501 mayissue a closing signal which is sent to the moveable closing device2101, whereupon the movable closing device is closed automatically, i.e.non-manually. Additionally or alternatively, the control circuitry mayissue an opening signal which is sent to the moveable closing device,whereupon the movable closing device is opened automatically, i.e.non-manually. Additionally or alternatively, based on this informationthe control circuitry may issue an activation signal which is sent tothe automatic locking device 103, whereupon the automatic locking device103 locks the movable closing device in the closed state. Additionallyor alternatively, the control circuitry may issue a deactivation signalwhich is sent to the automatic locking device 103, whereupon theautomatic locking device 103 unlocks the movable closing device.Additionally or alternatively, the control circuitry may issue a signalto the first singulation transporting device when the movable closingdevice is open. Thereby, the first transporting device may be preventedfrom starting the individual transporting of containers from the firstreceiving area to the second receiving area. Additionally oralternatively, during operation of the reverse vending machine, thecontrol circuitry may issue a signal to the first singulationtransporting device if the movable closing device is opened. Thereby,the first singulation transporting device may be halted and theindividual transporting of containers from the first receiving area tothe second receiving area may be discontinued.

The invention has been described with reference to some detailedexamples, however the skilled person realizes that a number ofmodifications of the embodiments described herein are possible withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, which is defined in theappended claims. For example, the design of the transportation deviceincluding the container elevating members may be scaled or givendifferent designs depending on e.g. the material, size, shape and weightof the containers that the singulation device is to be able to handle.Guided by this description and possibly in combination with some testingthe person skilled in the art will be able to find a suitable design.Furthermore, the reverse vending machine of the present inventiveconcept may have an alternative configuration and may e.g. comprisealternative means for singulating used beverage or food containers, suchas those disclosed in US 2012118700 or EP 2014/052546. When using thereverse vending machine of the present inventive concept with thesingulation transporting device of EP 2014/052546, the inlet may guidethe containers towards the middle portion of the rotating surface, i.e.towards a first receiving area, where the containers are then singulatedby means of the device disclosed in EP 2014/052546.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A reverse vending machine for singulation of usedbeverage or food containers received in bulk into individual objects,said reverse vending machine comprising: a first receiving area arrangedfor simultaneously receiving and keeping a plurality of containers whichare to be singulated; a first singulation transporting device forindividual transporting of containers from said first receiving area toa second receiving area, and a front comprising an infeed for guiding abulk of containers towards said first receiving area, wherein said frontfurther comprises: a movable closing device for closing said infeed,which movable closing device is movable between an open state whereinsaid infeed is open, and a closed state wherein said infeed is closed;an automatic locking device configured to lock said movable closingdevice in said closed state after the start of a container singulationsession, and unlock said movable closing device at the end of saidcontainer singulation session, and wherein said container singulationsession is configured to be started before said movable closing deviceis closed.
 17. The reverse vending machine according to claim 16,further comprising a safety arrangement for preventing user injuries.18. The reverse vending machine according to claim 17, wherein saidsafety arrangement comprises a light curtain with a light beam.
 19. Thereverse vending machine according to claim 18, wherein said safetyarrangement is configured to immediately shut down said reverse vendingmachine if the light beam is broken when said reverse vending machine isrunning.
 20. The reverse vending machine according to claim 16, furthercomprising: a singulation monitoring device configured to issue anopening signal which is sent to said movable closing device, whereinsaid movable closing device is configured to open upon receiving saidopening signal, wherein said singulation monitoring device is furtherconfigured to issue a closing signal which is sent to said movableclosing device, and wherein said movable closing device is configured toclose upon receiving said closing signal, and wherein said singulationmonitoring device is configured to issue said closing signal based on atleast one of: the fill level of the machine or said first receivingarea, the amount of objects received at said first receiving area, therate at which containers or objects are received at said first receivingarea, the position of said movable closing device, the amount of objectsor containers present in said first receiving area and/or thetransportation rate from said first receiving area to said secondreceiving area.
 21. The reverse vending machine according to claim 20,wherein said singulation monitoring device is configured to issue anactivation signal which is sent to said automatic locking device,wherein said automatic locking device is configured to lock said movableclosing device in the closed state, and wherein said singulationmonitoring device is configured to issue an deactivation signal which issent to said automatic locking device, and wherein said automaticlocking device is configured to unlock said movable closing device. 22.The reverse vending machine according to claim 16, wherein said movableclosing device comprises at least one hinge connecting said closingdevice to said front and/or wherein guides are attached to said front,to which guides said movable closing device is attached and/or saidmovable closing device is moved by a translating non-rotational movementfollowing an outside surface of said front.
 23. The reverse vendingmachine according to claim 16, wherein said movable closing device isarranged within the infeed of said reverse vending machine and saidinfeed is arranged to guide said bulk of containers towards said firstreceiving area.
 24. The reverse vending machine according to claim 16,wherein said movable closing device, when arranged in said closed state,is arranged up-stream of said infeed and covering the same.
 25. Thereverse vending machine according to claim 16, wherein said secondreceiving area is positioned at a higher vertical level than said firstreceiving area.
 26. A method of operating a reverse vending machine forsingulation of used beverage or food containers received in bulk intoindividual objects, said method comprising: providing a reverse vendingmachine having a first receiving area arranged for simultaneouslyreceiving and keeping a plurality of containers which are to besingulated; an infeed; a first singulation transporting device forindividual transporting of containers from a first receiving area to asecond receiving area; a movable closing device for closing said infeed,which closing device is movable between an open state wherein saidinfeed is open; a closed state wherein said infeed is closed; anautomatic locking device configured to lock said movable closing devicein said closed state at the start of a container singulation session,and unlock said movable closing device at the end of said containersingulation session; receiving a bulk of used beverage or foodcontainers through said infeed; receiving and keeping said bulk of usedbeverage or food containers at said first receiving area; individualtransporting of containers from said first receiving area to a secondreceiving area, starting said container singulation session beforeclosing said movable closing device, protecting the user of said reversevending machine, wherein protecting the user comprises: providing anautomatic locking device, providing an activation signal to saidautomatic locking device when said moveable closing device is to belocked, which activation signal is issued based on one or two or all ofthe following: the amount of objects received at said first receivingarea, the rate at which containers or objects are received at said firstreceiving area, the position of said movable closing device, providing adeactivation signal to said automatic locking device when said moveableclosing device is to be unlocked, which activation signal is issuedbased on one or both of the following: the amount of objects orcontainers present in said first receiving area, and said containertransportation rate from said first receiving area to said secondreceiving area.
 27. The method of operating a reverse vending machineaccording to claim 26, wherein said reverse vending machine furthercomprises a safety arrangement for preventing user injuries.
 28. Themethod of operating a reverse vending machine according to claim 27,wherein said safety arrangement comprises a light curtain with a lightbeam.
 29. The method of operating a reverse vending machine according toclaim 28, comprising shutting down said reverse vending machine if saidlight curtain is broken when said reverse vending machine is running.